Glass Art Revealed

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Smoky Summer

Wow, this has been a rough past couple of weeks, what with all the smoke pouring into our valley and devastating the view and air quality. We’ve had a weird wet then dry summer, lots of lightening storms lately which is beautiful to see but never good, and a whole slew of fires in the West.

The American fire northeast of Foresthill in Placer County, was about 60% contained, and there were some clearer mornings here in Reno before the afternoon wind shifted and brought it back in. Then the Rim Fire near Yosemite started and the smoke is just pouring into our area.

Starting to really feel it now–the itchy eyes, and scratchy throat. I’ve already started on eye drops for the seasonal allergies, and even that was about 3-4 weeks earlier than normal. So now with all this smoke…..yuck.

It actually makes it tough to want to torch! I need to have a window open to get fresh return air. It’s been very wet, creating lots of bug puddles, then hot the last few weeks also–in the mid 90’s–and so if I wait until it cools off, I get eaten alive by all the fresh, new, giant and voraciously hungry mosquito’s….ugh!  Just on a big whine fest–sorry!

So instead of being bitten all to heck while torching in nasty smoke, I have been cruising the auction site Ebay, and the Garage Sale area of Lampwork Etc, searching for unique glass, tools, and other goodies to buy! And I got a monster deal from Double Helix glass–the company was moving, and had unbelievably inexpensive Garage Sale boxes (well, per pound it was inexpensive for DH standards!!) and I managed to snag one!

No returns (yeah right, no worries!) and no choosing any specific glass, so I have no idea what some of these babies do! But I did know a few of them, and got some of last years experimental test types so I am a happy, happy camper indeed.

Soon I will be experimenting with all kinds of weird reduction and striking glasses.  I’m still pinching myself on this purchase (and trying not to focus on the “why didn’t I get 4 or 10 or 25 boxes instead of just one since they are so amazing!” syndrome).

Have you ever bought an absolutely fabulous deal and then obsessed about more later–even though the first one was an amazing blessing and plenty?? Let me know!

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35 Seconds…

That’s all the time there was on the clock at Mt Rose when I pulled up.

3:59.25 pm. Oh yeah, baby, timing is everything.

That 35 seconds meant I could take one more ride up the lift! I could take on the mountain with a final view of Washoe Valley and Carson City to the the south, Reno and the edges of the desert to the north. I could soar over the quiet slopes, drift between the shadows, quiet my mind and relax.

And the best part of the very last run on a Sunday? Everyone has already climbed back into their cars and prepared for the long drive home if they’re visiting from out of town.

The out of control, no looking around, just straight bombing kamikaze kids are gone. The people paying the crazy high day lift rates are so tired, trying to squeeze out every x-dollars-per-ski-run in y number of hours  they can, getting exhausted in the process, are gone.

The idots who stop in front of the lift, clogging the entrance, not a clue in the world in spite of the lift operators who constantly ask them to “Keep moving”, and “Don’t block the entrance”, waiting for another clueless person to show up and just stand there with them, are gone.

Only the lifties and ski patrollers are left, and the few happy locals who managed to snag a last chair in the final seconds of the day…..are out there whooping it up, letting go of the rest of their leg strength, maybe racing a friend for beers down to the bottom of the Slide side.

Or maybe they are simply, quieting their own minds, slowly taking their time, looking around, meditating on the beauty and grace of another day skiing, a lucky few in a vast world of many who cannot enjoy this moment.

I did both. A little whooping is good for the lungs and the soul, and the quiet reflection fed my inner calm perfectly, so that the drive home was of joy and calm and happy.

I hope you had a real good day too.

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Welcome to 2013!!

Well, we made through another year…….in spite of the threats by the Mayan calendar and all the end of the world scenarios. Of course, Americans are still desperately hanging on to the edge of the “fiscal cliff” brought to you by all the wonderful folks in our government……you know, the ones that are supposed to be looking out for US, not just themselves??? Ahh, but I digress, and do not want to go all negative on the first crisp new day of 2013!

Ok, so let’s recap………… just today, not the whole last year! My sweetheart surprised me with a flute of champagne and even made breakfast! Then, after a quiet, laid back morning, I got to go to Mount Rose and ski! The weather was absolutely bluebird–wide open blue skies, bitin’ ass cold, loads of snow, and not too many dumbasses on the hill!

I rarely, if ever, ski during the holiday break, but since I bought a full season ski pass to Mt Rose this year and the snowfall and accumulation has been freaking amazing so far during December (6 to 10 FEET already–YES!!!)………..well, I just had to go. And I am so glad I did, even if I did have to kamikaze ski around all the ankle biters and 5 day season skiers (you know, the people who only ski during the winter/holiday break, but have all the newest equipment and clothes? Yeah, those dumbasses).

But the gods were smiling, as well as most of the people there. It sure is hard not to smile when there is all that glorious snow, the season has only just begun, and the holidays are almost over! Plus we had dinner at the brother in laws house with a thick juicy ham, rich and decadent scalloped potatoes, and a yummy bright fresh waldorf salad (I ain’t saying nuthin’ about that nasty green bean casserole with the disgusting mushroom crap all smeared over beautiful &  innocent green beans–there are people who actually enjoy such stuff, but I ain’t a one a them, and I ain’t apologizin’ neither…..ugggggh.)

So it was one of the best New Years days I’ve had in a long time–and I haven’t even said anything about the NEW STUDIO!!!!!!!!!!  I’ll have to write several posts about this dream come true, along with posting some photos–I can hardly wait!

Smiles, Sheri

 

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The week before Christmas…

Wow, it’s already the week before Christmas…and I still don’t have nearly all of my tasks done! There are my world famous Rosemary Shortbread cookies to make, pack, and ship, and yummies to buy for my own personal holiday snacking stash like the amazing and tasty Edel-Marzipan Stollen from Trader Joe’s–oooooh, yes! My husband never saw it (hey, I am not above hiding good food!) until I toasted him a thick slice from the very last of it. Sorry sweetie!

Even though I love to bake (hey, just so you all know, that Culinary degree wasn’t bought online from a Diploma mill–I baked hard for that!) there are time constraints and limitations, and heck, I’d rather spend my time at the torch! The instant gratification from all those trips to TJ’s is quite apparent in my hips, but geez, life is short! In fact, according to the Mayan calendar, we only have 4 days left….or some such crazy prediction!

So being the responsible and totally connected to the outside world person I am (yea, right) I did purchase some End of the World beer, and am planning to do ……….absolutely nothing in preparation. Ok, maybe I’ll stock up on some more bars and mixes of good dark chocolate, just in case. But that’s just a normal item to stock up on, so I’m not sure if it really counts.

And propane–I’ll fill my two small b b q tanks with propane, but only because I know I have been using a ton of it lately making all the cool Wishing Stars and goofy fun Dog Head beads on my website, and I still have more glass goodies to make for family and friends for the holiday. But I guess it won’t hurt to have another fuel source in case the world does end and I need dinner.

See you (or not) on the 21st!

 

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Glow In The Dark Dread Beads!

Glow In The Dark Dread Beads

Handmade Glass Glow In The Dark Dread Beads.
Hmmmm…. These are interesting to make on many levels! The Glow in the Dark powder is a little persnickity. It doesn’t just melt in smoothly–it has to be gently and not so gently smooshed in and worked throughout the glass I am using a the carrier glass. And if that carrier glass has issues of its own, I can create a genuine broohaha in my own studio!

One of the other reasons these are funny to me is–I have short hair. I always dreamed of the thick rich hair my sister had, but no. The Hair Goddesses giggled and laughed and downright guffawed when they passed over my head.

They conspired and decided to create wire like curls here and there. They sprinkled in some cowlicks and other anomalies. They made it so whenever I gritted my teeth and waited for it to grow instead of chopping it off in frustration, it grew in the shape of Bozo the Clown from the 1960’s…..you know, pointy on the sides, and much, much worse than a mullet….

But finally, finally finally, I found a cut that made it work. I just had to always keep it short and the reward was no fuss, consistently complimented curls.

But getting back to glass Dread Beads. What does my hair story have to do with dread beads?  It’s just ironic I make and sell these glass dread beads when I have no opportunity to even try them on! Of course, I also made over 4000 hair scrunchies out of all kinds of beautiful and fun fabrics back in the 80’s, so maybe I am just going through another weird cycle!

I would love to see my handmade beads in your locks!!! Send me an image or two– just email it to me at my Contact Us page address with any details and a release if it’s ok to post here!

Thanks!

Smiles, Sheri